CVE-2014-6796 in LocalSense
Summary
by MITRE
The LocalSense (aka com.LocalSense) application 1.2.1 for Android does not verify X.509 certificates from SSL servers, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to spoof servers and obtain sensitive information via a crafted certificate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-6796 resides within the LocalSense Android application version 1.2.1, representing a critical security flaw in certificate verification mechanisms. This weakness directly impacts the application's ability to establish secure communication channels with SSL servers, creating a significant exposure in mobile security protocols. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly validate X.509 certificates, which are fundamental components in establishing trust between client and server in secure communications. This flaw essentially removes the cryptographic verification layer that ensures the authenticity of server identities, leaving users susceptible to various forms of attack.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as a complete absence of certificate chain validation within the application's SSL/TLS handshake process. When the LocalSense application attempts to establish a secure connection to any server, it fails to perform the necessary checks that would normally verify certificate authenticity through trusted certificate authorities. This includes not validating certificate expiration dates, checking certificate signatures against trusted root certificates, or ensuring the certificate's subject matches the expected server domain. The absence of these validation steps creates an environment where malicious actors can present fraudulent certificates that the application will accept without question, effectively bypassing the entire security framework designed to protect user data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated man-in-the-middle attacks where adversaries can intercept and manipulate communications between the mobile application and its intended servers. Attackers can generate and present custom certificates that appear legitimate to the vulnerable application, allowing them to decrypt and modify sensitive data transmitted between the user's device and backend services. This capability extends to potentially accessing personal information, login credentials, financial data, and other confidential details that users expect to be protected through secure communication channels. The impact is particularly severe given that the application operates on mobile devices where users may be conducting sensitive transactions or accessing private information in public environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-295, which specifically addresses "Improper Certificate Validation," and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices outlined in industry standards. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw maps directly to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566, specifically "Phishing with Social Engineering" and T1571, "Modify Authentication Process", as it enables attackers to manipulate the authentication process by presenting fake certificates. The lack of certificate verification creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited across multiple attack vectors, including credential theft, data exfiltration, and service disruption. Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of data compromise and potential regulatory violations, as the flaw undermines fundamental security assurances that users expect from mobile applications.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate code modifications to implement proper X.509 certificate validation, including certificate chain building, signature verification, and hostname checking against the certificate subject. Application developers should integrate robust certificate pinning mechanisms where possible, and ensure all SSL/TLS connections perform thorough validation before establishing secure communication. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid using the vulnerable application until patches are deployed, and organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their mobile application portfolios.